Moldovan PM asks Public Property Agency to temporarily suspend privatization process

Chisinau, 19 June /MOLDPRES/- Prime Minister Maia Sandu asked today the Public Property Agency (APP) to identify the legal ways to temporarily suspend the privatization process.

At the same time, the prime minister announced that at the next government meeting the APP director will be dismissed.

"We all know the abuses committed in the privatization processes over the last few years. Although we have publicly announced that we will start an investigation into the illegalities committed by former regime officials to release corrupt institutions, representatives of the regime still in office continue the theft of assets of public property, "Maia Sandu said. The official added that according to the public information available on the APP website, an announcement was made on 14 June on the conduct of the commercial competition for the privatization of several state public property assets, including Moldova Sanatorium in Truskavet, Ukraine, "at a price that seems significantly diminished compared to the real price.”

Parliament approved on 18 June the establishment of an inquiry commission to review the organization and conduct of public property privatization since 2013 until now.

The prime minister said that the work of this commission will focus on privatizations that raised a lot of questions about their fairness and legality, including Chisinau Airport, Air Moldova, Railways and Train Stations.

On 14 June, APP announced conducting tenders for privatization of 36 public property assets on 2 July. Six assets worth more than 320 million lei (over 15 million euros) were set at competition, including Chisinau glass factory - the initial sale price of 231.6 million lei, Zarea Hotel - 24.4 million lei, Moldova sanatorium – 25.5 million lei.